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VOLUME 101, ISSUE 5 919 530 7116/CAMPUSECHO@NCCU.EDU WWW.CAMPUSECHO.COM

Opinion

Campus

VOICE

GAME

E-mail, Facebook, Twitter — why you should use them wisely.

Here’s Willie again.

And now he’s going after the media ...

More stories written for the Northeast Central Durham VOICE by NCCU students.

Eagles soar over Marauders 53 - 22 in Homecoming game.

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Campus Echo ‘Fly high’ 1959 alum brings past and present into focus

Crime rattling U.S. campuses Recent violent crimes upset sense of refuge on college campuses

BY MARA ROSE WILLIAMS MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS (MCT)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tuition may not be the most troubling concern for parents sending sons and daughters

off to college.

A disturbing pattern of violent crime has erupted across the nation’s campuses — from Yale University, where a female graduate

student was strangled, to the University of California at Los Angeles, where a chemistry student was stabbed repeatedly in a lab.

While saying that campuses

almost always are safer than their surrounding communities, Jonathan Kassa of Security On Campus Inc. acknowledged that the headlines can create the

opposite impression.

“This has been a very uniquely deadly and brutal first semester, so there is

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HOMECOMING 2009 I NCCU CELEBRATES ITS CENTENNIAL

Mattie Giles, 1959 alumna, at Friday’s convocation.

BRANDI MYERS/ Echo staff photographer

BY AMARACHI ANAKARAONYE ECHO STAFF REPORTER

June 2, 1959 was the 45th annual commencement of the N.C. College at Durham, now N.C. Central University.

That year’s class completed its secondary education in an era of legalized disCentennial News crimination, and without the efficiencies of modern technology.

Most students cannot imagine life without cell phones, computers, iPods and Facebook — but past alumni paved the way without these “necessities.”

Among the graduates that year was Mattie Giles, convocation speaker of NCCU’s 62nd annual Founder’s Day. A major in sociology with a double minor in education and library science, Giles is a retired professor of social work at the University of the District of Columbia.

“I am grateful for all the University has done for me and countless others,” said Giles on Friday.

She said NCCU graduates were stronger and wiser and more educated because of our founder. “Dr. Shepard made it possible, no matter the school’s name.”

Giles’ convocation speech connected the rich past of NCCU with the present state of the institution.

She recounted her freshman year at the N.C. College at Durham with pride. She recalled the humiliation of wearing “beanies,” or skull caps, to signify freshman classification, and witnessing the vocal gift of her classmate, Shirley Caesar, at the freshman talent show.

“What a difference time, need and resources make,” said Giles.

Under the guidance of Marjorie Shepard, daughter of founder James E. Shepard, Giles earned 55 cents an hour for work-study in the James E. Shepard Memorial Library.

She told the audience about a Mr. Alston and his dog, who constituted “the one-man, one-dog, one- nightstick” campus security force from 1954 to 1959.

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Two Washington, D.C.-based alumni, Anna Joyce Newkirk Pratt, Miss NCCU Alumna 2008-09, with Gerald Angelo Peebles, Mr. NCCU Alumnus, at the parade.

KANISHA MADISON/Echo staff photographer

BY CARLTON KOONCE/ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF entennial homecoming events for the N. C. Central University family have come to an end.

The fun, festivities and

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reunions of the week brought in alumni who have not seen the campus in years.

The 2009 homecoming kicked-off with a comedy show

featuring comedians Kevin Hart and Benji Brown followed by entertainment at the Eagle Jam and the traditional Pre-Dawn dance.

The newsest Ms. NCCU, Chavery McClanahan, and Mr. NCCU, Tremaine Holloway, were crowned during the coron See HOMECOMING Page 8

Historic leaders on display Former chancellors, political leaders subjects of centennial art project

BY ASHLEY ROQUE ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Biology freshman Marion Grant admires a portrait of Annie Day, James E. Shepard’s wife.

JERRY ROGERS/Echo staff photographer

LeRoy Walker. Mickey Michaux.

Annie Day Shepard. W.G. Pearson.

Julius Chambers. C.C. Spaulding.

Alphonso Elder.

Jeanne Lucas.

Charlie Nelms.

These are the nine new portraits of leaders in the black community now displayed in the lobby of the Farrison-Newton Building.

Each leader has contributed to the growth and development of N. C. Central University over its 100 years.

Fine arts students con-

tributed to the celebration of the Centennial while learning about the and Centennial News past p r e s e n t African-American leaders.

Each portrait was created by art students from the art club, under the leadership of adjunct professor Chad Hughes.

“The appearances of these faces demands questions,” said art professor Achamyleh Dabela.

“We want to share the stories of these leaders

with the whole student body because we don’t want students to spend four years here and not know who are our main leaders.”

Though some of the portraits are of former chancellors and presidents, others depict civil rights leaders and government representatives, such as Jeanne Lucas.

Lucas, an alumna of Hillside High, became, in 1993, the first AfricanAmerican female to serve in the state senate.

“I think it’s amazing

n See PORTRAITS Page 2

Students rally behind public option

BY ASHLEY GRIFFIN ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Theodore Roosevelt tried it in the early 1900s.

Franklin D. Roosevelt tried it three decades later. And Harry Truman made a run at it in the 1940s.

Today President Obama is challenged by the same task.

The United States has been plagued throughout its history with trying to find a successful healthcare system for all its citizens.

On Oct. 23 a petition was presented to N. C. democratic junior senator Kay Hagan signed by 365 N.C. Central University students.

“We began to collect signatures at the cafeteria and the student union and presented in classes to explain to students what the petition supported,” said Emily Littlejohn, public health and business administration senior.

Today, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 47 million Americans under the age of 65 do not have

health insurance.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Web site, a non-profit, private organization concentrating on national health care issues and U. S. global health policy, “health insurance premiums have consistently grown faster than inflation.”

The Foundation projects that by 2018, healthcare spending in the nation will soar to more than $4.3 trillion, or $13,100 per resident.

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Emily Littlejohn helped petition for a public health care option.

ASHLEY GRIFFIN/Echo staff photographer

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that we get to see the faces of so many historical figures displayed like this,” said Olivia Scott, junior English major.

“It sort of inspires you as you walk in because these portraits remind us of how far we can really go.”

Another portrait is of Leroy Walker, head coach of NCCU’s track team in 1945.

Walker went on to become the first black president of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

NCCU track and field athletes competed in all the Olympic Games between 1956 and 1980.

“I love how they are big enough to where you can see them clearly while driving on Fayetteville Street,” said Ivorie Sangutei, English senior.

According to art junior Bobbi Cherry-Davis, the prints are based on photographs from NCCU’s archives.

“We projected the images to make them bigger and used black charcoal to trace the images on a huge piece of paper,” said Cherry-Davis.

“We then put an ‘x’ in areas that we were going to paint all black. It’s a lot of fun because, when you first look at the huge outline, you don’t know exactly how it’s going to turn out,” she said.

“So when you see the finished work, it looks really amazing.”

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NCCU alums carry Shepard legacy at local middle school

Chem group lauded Community service key to nat’l honor

BY NINECIA SCOTT ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Built in 1963, James E. Shepard Middle School is home to over 400 students and many alumni.

CHRIS HESS/Echo Staff Photographer

BY CHARITY JONES

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Shepard’s dream lives for ‘tweens

“For us to look where we’re going, we’ve got to look where we’ve been and from whence we’ve come,” she said.

Giles discussed the prejudices of the Jim Crow era and the social activism of her and her peers. They were involved in civil rights sit-ins and boycotted downtown Durham department stores and diners.

Education offered them an escape from the shortcomings of society as well as the tools to combat it.

“Education allowed us to get away from picking cotton, harvesting tobacco, working in mills and working in white folks’ homes for minimal wage,” she said.

“Be well, carry the torch and fly high,” said Giles, closing her speech.

Giles expressed appreciation to Dr. James E. Shepard. “For his vision, dedication, tenacity and courage, we are stronger, wiser and more educated individuals,” she said.

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2009

ECHO STAFF REPORTER

It’s not just our library that bears the name of N.C. Central University founder James E. Shepard.

There’s also a nearby middle school that carries his name.

At James E. Shepard Middle School, students are taught about Shepard throughout the school year.

And at the end of the year they have a Shepard celebration.

About half the teachCentennial News ers who work at the magnet school graduated from NCCU, which goes to show that “Eagles flock together.”

Seventh grade humanities teacher Roland McDaniel, an NCCU alumnus, coaches basketball, football and track at Shepard Middle.

“I believe it is an ongoing dream that has instilled a sense of success to young men and women,” he said.

“Dr. Shepard’s dream will never stop growing and never be fulfilled but will continue to grow.”

Located at 2401 Dakota Street the school is just a few blocks from N.C. Central University. It was built in 1963.

Shepard Middle currently has 413 students. Of these 85 percent are African American, 7 percent are Hispanic and 5 percent are white.

The school offers students a variety of programs and opportunities.

“One year the students had a chance to meet John Hope Franklin, where they presented him with their biographies that they had written for an assignment in class,” said Ericka Boone, the school’s assistant principal and a 1994 NCCU alumna.

“The students seemed very excit-

ed to see the person they had written about in person.”

Shepard Middle has a strong relationship with NCCU, Boone said.

“Some of the law students from NCCU come over and assist students with basic laws, and speeches,” she said.

The school also has a mock courthouse where students hold trials on court cases that took place in the past, or they make up their own.

NCCU also offers student mentors who come over to the middle school and spend one-on-one time with students.

“I think Dr. Shepard would be proud of the students and the program that we offer to students and would like to see both NCCU and Shepard to become top-notch schools,” said the school’s principal, James Ingram.

PETITION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “Medicaid and Medicare finances healthcare for the very poor, disabled and elderly, which leaves out a lot of people,” said David Jolly, chair of the department of public health education.

“A public option policy isn’t dead yet.

Organizations like Move On.org collected 300,000 signatures in two weeks supporting a public option.”

In September, NCCU students took on a community service project: to team up with the North Carolina Access Health Coalition (NCAHC) and to help get signatures in support of a public health care option.

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“We ended up working with NCCU because Dr. Jolly was looking for opportunities for his students to get involved in the health care reform debate,” said Hope Morasco, an outreach coordinator with NCAHC. “He mentioned that his students would all have to complete 15 hours of community service,” Morasco said . “We were planning a statewide student day of action and asked if he had a student who could help with this. Central definitely represented compared to all the other campuses in this area,” she said.

Duke and Appalachian University students also participated.

“Senator Kay Hagan seems to be iffy about the bill. We just wanted to show her that college students are behind her,” said Littlejohn.

The NCCU presentation to one of Hagen’s staff members included the petitions and personal testimonies about how important healthcare is to everyone.

“I think the meeting went really well,” said Morasco.

“It was impressive for the students to turn in 365 petitions that they had collected in the matter of a couple days.

“None of the students who attended had ever lobbied before, and they all did a great job of sharing their stories with the press and the Senator’s staff person. I think they sent a loud and clear message that college students at NCCU support a strong public option as part of health care reform,” she said.

But large private insurers contest the value of the public option.

At an Oct. 26 presentation to a public health policy class, Laurie Ellis, project director for Blue Cross Blue Shield, said, “The health care system is flawed — we all know that — but the best method is

not a public option,” said Ellis.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is a company insures one of every three North Carolinians and pays claims of about $41.8 million in the state.

“If a public option is passed, the government has the power to pay what they feel is appropriate,” said Ellis.

“This will lead to cost shifting for private companies and we have to make up the difference.

Medical cost is the issue.”

The NCCU students who collected the signatures from the petition are considering taking this to Washington, D.C. “We want to let President Obama know we support him,” said Littlejohn, who urged those willing to sign the petition, to call 919-4267448.

“When students graduate, they often enter jobs that do not offer health care insurance, so it’s important for them to have the option of participating in an affordable public insurance plan,” said Morasco.

“NCCU students sent a loud and clear message to lawmakers that they support a strong public option as part of health care reform.”

This spring, the N. C. Central University American Chemical Society (NCCU ACS) chapter will receive an honorable mention chapter award for community service and outreach, at the National ACS Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

The NCCU chapter also will be recognized in the November/December issue of In Chemistry, the official publication of the ACS. One of NCCU ACS’s noted outreach projects was creating and coaching a Science Bowl team at Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School. The Bowl is hosted annually by NCCU. Three teams from the Early High School, each composed of four students and one alternate, competed in the regional Science Bowl this year for the first time.

NCCU ACS’s president, Maian Lopian, said coaching students at the Early High School came as “a vision to inspire NCCU student to become active and to reach out to other students to foster a love of science.”

Caitlin Ho, a student at the Early High School, said “ACS’ involvement] has opened up new windows of opportunity. ACS offers fun ways to learn math and science without [students] feeling pressured.”

Lopian said the ACS chapter is important to the students, University and community because it upholds NCCU’s motto of “truth and service” by offering “dedicated students whose aim in life is to serve [their] community through [their] individual and collective accomplishments through science.”

The NCCU ACS chapter plans to uphold and improve upon its community outreach by continuing to coach Early High School students, and by reaching out to local elementary schools through enriching and enticing chemistry demonstrations.

ACS will incorporate monthly seminars featuring professionals spanning from all branches of science to help students understand the importance of chemistry and how it is interconnected to all areas of study.

Upon becoming a member of the NCCU Student Affiliates Chapter of the American Chemical Society, students are asked to join the National American Chemical Society.

“We do not charge any fee,” Lopian said.

“We just ask that students participate in at least one activity that the NCCU ACS hosts and be present at meetings, which take place every last Tuesday of the month during the 10:40 hour.”

Campus

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Golden Eagles soar through 50 years Class of 1959 inducted on University’s 100th Centennial

BY CARLTON KOONCE ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

N. C. Central University’s 2009 Founder’s Day Convocation saw the induction of the latest batch of alumni into the Golden E a g l e s Society.

Centennial News The society acknowledges the achievements of graduating classes after 50 years.

Some Golden Eagles limped to receive their certificates while others walked with canes. Still others moved with the speed

they did over a half century ago.

During the induction, Chancellor Charlie Nelms and Provost Kwesi Aggrey presented certificates to the inductees. Nelms described the Golden Eagles as “trailblazers for the rest of us to follow.”

Sarah Bell-Lucas, director of the engagement program in the University college and one of the inductees, compared the induction to a marriage proposal.

“It’s an emotional time,” said Bell-Lucas. “I cried tears of happiness.”

The 2009 Golden Eagles

entered the North Carolina College at Durham in 1955 with 217 undergraduates at the 1959 commencement.

Nelms told the audience that every NCCU student’s “destination is graduation” and student goals should be not that they attended the University but that they graduated.

“I never dreamed when I left NCCU in 1959 what would later happen,” said Bell-Lucas.

Shirley Holliday, a 1956 graduate of NCCU was inducted into the Golden Eagles Society three years ago, said it feels great to be an Eagle after 50 years.

“It is wonderful to see all the great changes on the campus,” said Holliday.

“I am still in wonder at how much for the better they have changed Annie Day Shepard Dorm and of course the library.”

According to Bell-Lucas, each class gives back to the school and this year’s Golden Eagles as a group gave $45,000 to an endowment fund they have in the University foundation.

The money is used for scholarships and other University needs.

Holliday and Bell-Lucas said students should look forward to becoming Golden

Ethel Speight Russell is one of 70 Golden Eagles inducted Friday.

BRANDI MYERS/Echo Staff Photographer

Eagles.

“Prepare for learning and

life-long embrace

change as it comes,” said Holliday to graduating seniors.

Risky net behavior E-mail, Internet identity can harm job prospects

BY WHITNEY CAPERS ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Students may not realize it but they are being judged by what they say and post on the Internet — and they are not just being judged by their friends and family.

When students communicate with e-mail and create and identity on social networking sites such as Facebook they are revealing themselves and their character to potential employers.

And if they are not careful they can harm their chances of achieving a well-paying job.

According to Tonya Winchester, director of University Career Services, students need recognize that their e-mail communication is an indicator of how they will perform on the job.

Using a spell check before sending e-mail to prospected employers and being truthful in all online profiles is also a plus when navigating the social network landscape.

“If you are sending an email to a professional, then you want to greet them appropriately at the beginning of the e-mail,” said Tonya Winchester, director of University career services, in an e-mail.

“Write ‘Good Morning, Mrs. Winchester.’ Proceed with your message and end

with what is required or expected next; following up in a week or to phone tomorrow to discuss, etc.”

“Close with a proper and respectful closing, like sincerely, and your signature line detailing your contact information,” she said.

Winchester also said that students who do not use social network sites properly can run into trouble when they hit the job market.

Winchester suggested that students read the article, “Will the Internet Wreck Your Job-Hunt?” in the January 2008 issue of jobpostings.net.

According to a 2004 TechCrunch article, approximately 85 percent of college students use Facebook.

And Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn are resources that hiring managers are likely to turn to when reviewing potential employees, especially when they can pick and choose in a tight job market.

According to a 2008 article in jobpostings.net, a survey by CareerBuilder found that 63 percent of hiring managers have admitted to not hiring someone based on information they found online.

Derek Brinson, N.C. Central University’s Web master, agrees: “They check Facebook,” he said.

“The more they pay, the more likely it is that they will check social networks.”

And even the most innocent issues discussed on Facebook can be revealing to a potential employer.

Tina Elkins, mass communication junior, said she uses Facebook for personal and networking purposes, often posting her pictures and thoughts.

“I use it to find out what I missed in class if I couldn’t make it or if I have any questions on an assignment that is due,” said Elkins. “I find out info on upcoming events or what’s new with celebrity gossip.”

The job recruiter might wonder the following: Do we want to hire someone who misses classes? Do we want to hire someone who has trouble understanding their assignments?

According to NetworkEtiquette.net, students should not place anything on social networking sites that they do not want employers to see. Period.

Other suggestions for proper netiquette and boosting chances for finding employment include refraining from writing personal insults, called flames, on the Internet, and searching for illegal content that can be sold to employers or given to law enforcement personnel.

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Beyond NCCU

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525 Nelson Street, NCCU Campus

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Brain maps help guide you through space, researchers

more than 4,000 campuses, down from 11 in 2005.

Since the Virginia Tech rampage, all universities have tried to prepare for the rare incident of a person on campus with a gun.

Robbery is a far more common campus crime. Hundreds occur each year. According to Security On Campus Inc., sexual assault is increasing. The numbers don’t show it, but officials think it often goes unreported.

Thieves commit most of the crimes at area schools. Crimes of opportunity are most prevalent, campus police said, because students walk away from a laptop or iPod or leave their cars or dorm rooms unlocked.

Whether a school is nestled among cornfields or next to inner-city neighborhoods can affect the amount of crime.

The Web site The Daily Beast recently analyzed 4,000 reports from public and private fouryear schools and said the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, Long Island, with 11,831 students, was the safest in the country.

The least safe campus on the list was Emerson College, an arts-focused school in Boston. In The Daily Beast’s survey, many urban campuses fared poorly, including Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Maryland at Baltimore and Tufts University in Medford, Mass., outside Boston.

Surprisingly, experts say crime can occur less often on urban campuses because students there expect it and act accordingly. At more rural schools, students might feel more secure and take fewer precautions.

“Campus crime is not new,” said Kassa of Security On Campus Inc. “You can’t stop it all ... but you can reduce the risks and strengthen the response. Be prepared.”

United Christian Campus Ministry

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How your brain gets you home

CRIME concern,” said Kassa, the executive director of the nonprofit organization, which seeks to reduce campus crime.

This month at Sacramento State University in California, a student was beaten to death in his dormitory by a bat-wielding roommate. A football player was fatally knifed at the University of Connecticut.

In September, a Kansas City woman was killed by a stray bullet on a campus in Atlanta. In May, a student was shot down while working in the bookstore cafe at Wesleyan University in Connecticut.

“Those big incidents do worry me, but I worry more about the more regular types of crimes,” said Elise Higgins, a senior at the University of Kansas whose friend was mugged on campus a year ago.

“That made me really aware that I can be vulnerable even when I’m on campus around buildings I’m familiar with.”

Kassa said that sensational tragedies not only distort the college picture, but can distract students from the bigger problems of theft, assault, stalking, sex offenses and alcohol abuse.

Parents and students should be aware of four important points about crimes at colleges: Four of five cases are student on student. Most victims are men.

More offenses occur off campus.

Alcohol is involved 90 percent of the time.

Since 1990, all colleges and universities in federal financial aid programs annually report crimes on and near their campuses to the U.S. Department of Education. The data are passed to the Justice Department.

In 2007, the latest year for which national numbers are available, 48 killings occurred on the nation’s four-year campuses. That year, however, a mentally ill student gunned down 32 people at Virginia Tech.

The year before, eight people died violently on the nation’s

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2009

BY ROBERT S. BOYD MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS (MCT)

WASHINGTON — Lost? Not sure how to get home?

Trying to find your way through the mall or an airport?

Help is on the way, thanks to a stack of cells, or neurons, in your head.

They’re mostly on the left side of the brain in males, on the right in females.

Scientists have long known that a small, seahorse-shaped region in the brain, the hippocampus, contains neurons called “place cells” that specialize in geography.

In recent years, working mostly with laboratory rats, they have discovered additional types of neurons in or near the hippocampus known as “grid cells,” “head-direction cells” and “border cells.”

Taken together, “these cells form a map of the environment,” said Edvard Moser, a leading expert on brain mapping at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway.

The brain maps tell animals, including humans, where they are, how they got there and how to navigate to their next destinations, neuroscientists say.

“The ability to find one’s way through a large-scale space such as an airport, college campus or city neighborhood is essential for successful functioning in the modern world,” said Russell Epstein, a neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

“When we are lost and need to re-establish our general location, scene recognition mechanisms ... are likely to be crucial,

potentially enabling the correct ‘map’ to be selected in the hippocampus.”

Matthew Wilson, a neurobiologist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, compared the hippocampus to a computer hard drive. Instead of electronic bits and bytes, it contains millions of neurons that store memories of places, people, things and events.

Neuroscientists say that brain mapping cells “fire” — that is, release tiny electric charges — when they sense they’re in specific locations or headed in certain directions.

Border cells, for example, light up when they’re close to walls or other boundaries. Moser called them “the brain’s border patrol.”

In a report last December in the journal Science, Trygve Solstad, a researcher in Moser’s lab, outlined how the various cell groups work: “Place cells fire when we pass through fixed locations, letting us know where we are; head-direction cells fire when we face particular directions, acting as a compass, and grid cells fire when we’re at specific points on a hexagonal grid that the brain superimposes on our surroundings.”

Researchers on humans used to have to rely on sticking sensors in the brains of epileptic patients or studying the effects of brain injuries in the hippocampal area.

Now they’re increasingly using “virtual reality” environments, like those found in computer games.

For example, Eleanor Maguire, an expert on the

hippocampus at the Wellcome Trust for Brain Imaging in London, put people in a functional magnetic resonance imaging machine to observe which neurons fired as they navigated through a simplified virtual-reality maze.

“Remarkably, we could accurately predict the position of an individual within this environment solely from the pattern of activity in his hippocampus,” Maguire reported in the April 14 edition of Current Biology.

Researchers have identified gender differences in the ways that brain maps work in males and females.

“Female animals use landmarks as external cues,” Wilson said. “Male animals use internal, spatial maps.”

According to Georg Groen, a psychiatrist at the University of Ulm, Germany, men and women who are searching for a way out of a complex, three-dimensional virtual reality maze use different parts of their brains.

Males activate the left hippocampus, while females use other regions on the right side, Groen said.

Incidentally, Maguire acknowledged, “men were significantly faster than women at finding a way out of the maze.”

Network for a job!

Nurture relationships—once you make a connection, keep it going Establish connections—find a mentor, attend events, make good impressions

Get involved with Campus Ministries today!

Talk with alums—they’re often eager to help students succeed!

Write thank you notes—you’ll remain positively in people’s minds Offer assistance— Give! it’s not just about what you can “get” from people Michael D. Page Campus Minister

Really, be real—be genuine, show your interest & be you!

Keep at it—perseverance will get you far.

For more information contact Rev. Michael Page at 530-5263 or by e-mail at mpage@nccu.edu

University Career Services William Jones Bldg, Lower Level Check us out on the web!

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Phone: 919-530-6337 Email: nccucareerservices@nccu.edu http://web.nccu.edu/careerservices/index.php

Beyond NCCU

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U. of Maryland proves it is easy being green Students, faculty, staff and administrators join forces to reduce carbon footprint

BY L AURA G URFEIN CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE (MCT)

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Fall foliage may be burning red, orange and yellow these days, but many college campuses are turning green.

The University of Maryland, College Park has laid a course for the university to become a national green campus model and carbon neutral by 2050. The plan set a benchmark goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions on campus 15 percent from 2005 levels by 2015.

There’s evidence that its efforts are paying off.

The university has reduced its annual greenhouse gas emissions by 4.2 percent between 2005 and 2008, to 307,681 metric tons of carbon dioxide, according to a survey for the 2010 College Sustainability Report Card.

That figure is equivalent to roughly 7.3 metric tons emitted per full-time student in 2008, down from 7.8 metric tons three years ago, the survey showed.

“The University will take responsibility for the future, with dedication to enhancing the quality of life of all people, sustaining the natural environment, and reinforcing the capacity of Maryland’s citizens to thrive and prosper in a diverse, ever-changing, globally competitive environment,” the plan says.

University President C.D. Mote Jr. announced the University Senate’s approval of the 73-page Climate Action Plan to the campus via e-mail Oct. 1. To ensure the climate plan’s

implementation, a University Sustainability Council of students, faculty, and staff was created “to advise the Office of the President and the campus community,” Mote said in the e-mail.

The university will also unveil two green buildings later this fall: The John S. and James L. Knight Hall, housing the Philip Merrill College of Journalism; and South Campus Commons 7, an apartment-style dorm.

Both meet LEED green building certification and are awaiting official recognition upon completion. The U.S. Green Building Council designates both new and existing buildings with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design identification.

Most recently, the university won the participation category of the America’s Greenest Campus contest Oct. 14 with 2,257 members pledging to reduce their environmental impact.

Campus coordinator Joanna Calabrese said recruiting through classes and student groups was not very difficult.

“It was just a matter of pulling together the coalition of green groups on campus,” about 10 groups in total, said Calabrese, a senior environmental science and policy major and director of environmental affairs in the student government.

Students, faculty, staff, and administration participated by calculating and pledging to reduce their carbon footprint on Climate Change, a Web site offering individual sustainability advice, which sponsored the

The University of Maryland, College Park promotes sustainability efforts, from recycling to walking or biking around campus instead of driving.

LAURA GURFEIN/Capital News Service (MCT)

contest along with the nonprofit clean-energy company Smart Power.

UMCP had impressive membership compared to its competition. Second-place George Mason University had 1,930 participants, while University of Massachusetts Amherst came in third with 1,018 participants.

“We wanted to foster pride that our university is a green campus,” Calabrese said.

Rio Salado College in Tempe, Ariz., won for reducing its carbon footprint by 4.4 percent with 524 participating members during the

contest’s seven-month span.

Those participating for UMCP reduced their collective carbon footprint by 1.29 percent in that same time.

Calabrese said the contest “was a good foundation to pave the way” for individual sustainability. “It makes people feel proud of the fact that they can go green,” she said.

Winners received a $5,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to put toward sustainable efforts on campus.

Maryland’s prize money will go to the Student Sustainability Committee,

part of the Student Government Association.

Calabrese said the committee has been very busy promoting sustainability efforts recently, including making university events such as SGA’s annual Crab Fest, held on Oct. 22 this year, wastefree.

“We teach attendees to compost their waste,” Calabrese said. The committee hopes to extend the zerowaste initiative to catered events at the university, she said.

Calabrese added that the committee is working on eliminating the sale of bot-

tled water on campus by installing water filters and planning for Earth Day events on McKeldin Mall.

Mote is one of 654 presidents to sign the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment. Drafted in 2007, the commitment emphasizes the role of college and university campuses in global warming and outlines what campuses should do to reduce their carbon footprint.

Information about other sustainability issues on campus is available at www.sustainability.umd.edu.

From the NE Central Durham VOICE WE

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6 The news stories below are written by N.C. Central University students in Lisa Paulin’s advanced reporting course, and

by Campus Echo staff reporters.

The stories were first published with stories written by Jock Lauterer’s community journalism students at UNC-Chapel Hill.

They were recently published alongside stories written by middle and high school students in a new online community newspaper, the Northeast Central Durham VOICE. More VOICE stories will be published in future Campus Echo online and print

editions The VOICE – which can be seen in its entirety at http://durhamvoice.org – is the product of collaboration between the UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication and NCCU’s Department of English and Mass

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The project’s many supporters include other UNC-Chapel Hill programs and departments, Durham city government and community organizations, and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

A full accounting of the “good souls”

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behind the Northeast Central Durham VOICE is provided in Jock Lauterer’s acknowledgments.

Lauterer is director of the Carolina Community Media Project in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UNC-Chapel Hill and the VOICE’s co-

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adviser.

Two NCCU courses, advanced reporting and public issues reporting, will gradually become service learning courses in connection with the VOICE as NCCU mass communication majors begin to mentor Durham youth to become full-

7 fledged VOICE reporters.

We hope you enjoy learning more about Northeast Central Durham through these stories.

If you are interested in participating in this project, contact Dr. Lisa Paulin at lpaulin@nccu.edu.

‘Each one, teach one’ TROSA substance abuse program rescues lives B Y J AMON G LOVER

NCCU STAFF

REPORTER, DURHAM VOICE

‘Pretty houses’

EDCI: A pipeline for success

Home ownership the star at corner of Taylor and Alston

Children’s initiative aims to get kids from birth to college

Established in 1994 by Kevin McDonald, TROSA has been impacting the lives of people in 80 counties across the state.

BY JAMESE SLADE NCCU STAFF REPORTER, DURHAM VOICE

Eastway Village replaced Few Gardens, one of Durham’s most troubled housing projects, in May 2006.

ERICA SMITH/NCCU Staff reporter, Durham VOICE

BY ERICA SMITH NCCU STAFF REPORTER, DURHAM VOICE

Nestled in the corner of Taylor Street and Alston Avenue sits a gem of urban Durham living: Eastway Village.

Eastway Village, a project of single family homes and condominiums, was built on the property of the former Few Gardens Housing Project, one of Durham’s oldest — and most troubled — public housing complexes.

“This community is

designed for home ownership,” says Earl Phillips, Northeast Central Durham (NECD) executive director with the City’s Department of Community Development.

The homes range from 1,200 square feet to 1,456 square feet, and include three to four bedrooms and two to two and a half baths.

Three of the layouts include garages. Single family homes sell for $103,900 — $132,900.

The condominiums range from 1,008 square feet to 1,160

square feet, and sell for $90,900 – $107,900.

“It’s a really quiet, nice neighborhood,” says Stacy Anson, 30, who has lived in Eastway Village since December.

Despite the outward appearance, other residents express concern about Eastway Village’s NECD location.

“Eastway Village itself is a pretty safe community because Durham police officers live out there, but if you go a block around the corner

in either direction it is not a safe place at all especially at night,” says Milton Gainey, 42, Durham resident. “It is still pretty houses in the hood.”

Eastway Village appears to address the issue of delinquents spilling over from the surrounding area into the community by erecting fences around the condominium community.

“It is really quiet here, but sometimes you can here gunshots in the surrounding areas,” said Anson.

Taking on gangs, dealers Confiscated Escalade used as teaching tool by GREAT program

BY CHARITY JONES NCCU STAFF REPORTER, DURHAM VOICE

It’s an attention-getter.

And that is exactly what the Durham Police Department has in mind.

The all-white Cadillac Escalade has 24-inch spinners, six TVs, a Play Station 2, GPS navigation system and of course a custom paint job.

But this car is more than just eye candy. It is a teaching tool used by the Gang Resistance Education and Training program, or as GREAT. “The program teaches children at a young age to make good choices in life by saying no to gangs and to use other ways to deal with anger,” said Officer Lawanda Mock, a GREAT teacher at Eastway Elementary School in Northeast Central Durham.

The GREAT program works with elementary and middle schools in Durham County.

“The program works with fourth graders here and it has always had a positive enhancement on the students,” said Star Sampson, principal at Eastway Elementary.

There are six components to the GREAT elementary school lesson plan.

These include “Loud and Clear,” which deals with controlling anger, staying cool when the heat is on, identifying the feeling of anger, recognizing that we’re all in this together and respecting others.

NECD community members might have felt like they were back at school last Thursday at the East Durham Children’s Initiative community meeting.

Despite the socializing, smiles, food and beverages, attendees got down to business when organizers asked them to put their vision to paper.

Police officers, teachers, UNC, Duke, and NCCU students were among the attendees.

“East Durham Children’s Initiative also known as EDCI is a pipeline of success from birth to the graduation of high school and readies children for college or careers,” said Wanda Boone, co-chair of EDCI. She said that EDCI will do whatever it takes to make sure children are successful along that pipeline.

EDCI’s program is modeled after the Harlem Children’s Zone, which focuses on making sure children go to college.

Organizers are taking what they can from the programming and implementing it here in the Durham and Northeast Central Durham (NECD) specifically.

“Research tells us that children in the community have been in a pipeline to prison, but now we want it to be a pipeline to education,” said Minnie Forte, chair of Durham Public Schools.

The kids are not the only focus of this program.

Families are as well.

Family support will include job training, housing assistance, health and wellness programs, after school and summer school services and financial literacy programs.

“In order to have safe and successful children you have to have a safe and healthy environment,” said Boone.

To get the action started, the program is working step by step.

Boone said that EDCI is starting here with community conversations, during which community members will let organizers know what is important to them, what they like about their community, challenges they see and what they feel solutions are.

“It is a great coming together in the community,” said Cora Cole-McFadden, Mayor Pro-Tem. “EDCI will have a better understanding of the needs of our children and we will be more involved in the success of our children.”

“EDCI is wonderful. It will educate us on what is going on,” said Dee Mitchelle, president of resident services on Hoover Road.

“I am hoping for more community involvement.

The information has got to be

Acceptance into TROSA is granted on one condition: you must have a strong desire to change your life.

Northeast Central Durham Community Relations Coordinator Melva Henry (left) at Thursday’s East Durham Children’s Initiative community meeting .

JAMESE SLADE/NECD Community VOICE

CHARITY JONES/NECD Community VOICE

“The kids love the truck when we bring it out to the schools and it helps us spread our message about gang violence,” said Durham Police Corporal Daryl Macaluso, supervisor of the GREAT program.

Even though gang resistance is being taught in the schools, it still exists on the

streets of Durham.

Durham police have identified 20 gangs and 2,500 gang members.

“The youngest gang member I have seen can start at the age of nine and 10 years old,” said Macaluso.

Durham Police Officer Larry Watkins said, “The Durham community needs to

be concerned about what ways we can prevent young kids from joining a gang before it becomes a major epidemic.”

The GREAT program already has produced successful graduates, such as Michael Johnson, a quarterback for the N.C. Central University football team.

BY AARON SAUNDERS

For the past 16 years, Durham youth have been able to grow athletically and academically through the Durham Eagles Athletic Association.

Rodney Rogers, a former NBA player who started at Durham’s Hillside High School and Wake Forest University, and James Butch Williams a Durham attorney and sports agent, founded

JAMON GLOVER/ NECD Community VOICE

learn how to accept people for who they are and you learn how to deal with your own issues, because we all had issues before we were introduced to drugs,” says Levry Robinson 1998 graduate.

Once they reach the 90day mark, residents are allowed a monthly phone call.

“The program is designed to change you, so when you graduate you can maintain your sobriety. Life is hard, and being able to deal with it, without drugs or alcohol is key,” says Robinson.

From day one until the eighteenth month, TROSA provides everything: food, clothing and housing.

TROSA has a medical department with a nurse practitioner and volunteers from Duke and UNC, including a physical therapist and a dermatologist.

TROSA is for both male and female residents, but they aren’t allowed to have relationships for the first year. If residents decide to begin a relationship after that, they have relationship and communication classes

Owners, not renters, must file petitions

Durham has 175 unpaved roads totaling over 20 miles of dirt streets.

BRIANA AGUILAR/NECD Community VOICE

BY BRIANA AGUILAR NCCU STAFF REPORTER, DURHAM VOICE

The East Durham Children’s Initiative, which is modelled after the Harlem Children’s Zone, brought students, academics and neighborhood activists together. .

JAMESE SLADE/NECD Community VOICE

city wide.”

Some community members, however, remain skeptical.

“I have problems with a particular individual with

particular motive to enhance that present political agenda,” said Vivian McCoy. “Until I see that it is totally community driven I will be a skeptic, because they did

not go to the community and ask the community if they wanted this program.”

“The long-term goal for EDCI is to have children graduating from college and

coming back to live, work and thrive in the community,” Boone said.

“You will have more skills and potential to change the community.”

Academic All-Americans result of accountability and self-discipline NCCU STAFF REPORTER, DURHAM VOICE

“TROSA is more than just telling people to just say no,” says Kevin McDonald president of TROSA. TROSA is a long-term residential substance abuse recovery program.

Their belief is that individual and group leadership encourages personal and social responsibility.

When candidates first arrive, they go on a 30-day internship to assess whether they really want to let the old life go and embrace a new reality.

They aren’t allowed to make or receive phone calls during this initial period, so that their focus is on what’s best for them.

They also go through an orientation to learn rules, schedules and what’s expected of them at TROSA. After the 30-day mark, interns become freshmen and begin a year of character building and personal development. Six months into recovery, freshmen become full residents.

“During this time you

TROSA offices at 1820 James Street in NE Central Durham

Unpaved roads plague NECD

Durham Eagles promote success Durham Police Officer Larry Watkins shows off a Cadillac Escalade that is used as a teaching tool in GREAT, the Gang Resistance Education & Training Program.

Whether you’ve lived in Durham your whole life or a recent transplant, the influences of Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers, or TROSA, are hard to miss.

to help them be successful.

Former residents come back regularly as mentors and share their stories of failure and eventual success. They learn to help one another and they also receive in-depth counseling from the TROSA staff.

TROSA’s motto is, “Each one Teach one.”

They believe strongly in the team system.

Robyn Duff, assistant to the president, told VOICE reporter Julian March, “We have a buddy system and we hold everyone around us accountable.”

Residents are placed in job training programs through one of the many businesses that TROSA operates: lawn care, transportation and automotive, just to name a few.

At the twenty-first month, residents begin the final stage of recovery. They begin looking for work in society as a means to prepare them for a future outside of TROSA’s umbrella.

The program lasts for two years, and upon graduation residents go into society with a personal savings account, a donated and refurbished car, transitional housing and marketable job skills.

TROSA gives residents, not only counseling, but sends them back into society with a healthy mindset and job skills to become productive citizens.

“TROSA gave me an opportunity to change my life and the only way I can keep my sobriety is to go back and share my experiences with the current residents,” says Robinson.

the football league in 1993.

The association is dedicated to “creating an environment of discipline, selfrespect and success to aid in the academic, athletic and social success of our student athletes.”

“We have had a good number of guys make it on to college and that makes us successful,” said Head Coach Dave Potter.

Potter stresses excellence not only on the football field, but in the classroom as well.

“We have mostly elementary school kids so we try to teach them accountability, self discipline, how to meet and greet people and how to give a firm handshake,” said Potter.

The Durham Eagles organization is one of four or five football organizations that serve the Durham community and one of two that participate in Pop Warner.

The children are divided into 11 teams and must maintain a 2.0 GPA to partic-

ipate.

“Last year my team had nine academic AllAmericans, which is onethird of my team,” said Potter.

“The Pop Warner average is three percent so we are well ahead of the game.”

Potter added that coaches call players every week and that they have leadership and sportsmanship awards for the kids.

This past summer the little Eagles teamed up with the big Eagles of N.C.

Central University for a football camp. NCCU athletes helped coach drills.

The Eagles play their home games at Lowe’s Grove Middle School on Saturdays.

“There are a lot of people who don’t seem to know where to go if they want their kids to play football,” said Potter.

Anyone interested in the Durham Eagles can learn more on their website: http://www.durhameagles .com.

Many people might like the ice cream flavor named “Rocky Road,” but they might not enjoy driving on— or living next to — that rocky road.

“There are currently 20.97 miles of unpaved road in Durham, which the city maintains,” says Nathan McHenry, Engineering Services Supervisor at Public Works.

Many streets like Kate Street and S. Briggs Avenue are a few of the 175 roads in Durham that have yet to be paved.

“I have lived in Durham all of my life,” says Donald Yaboro owner of Triangle Mobile Storage.

“One road that causes the biggest controversy is Harvard Road. Citizens have been trying to get paved for over 20 years.”

If you are resident of Northeast Central Durham with gravel, dirt, or unpaved roads, and you would like to get them paved, you must petition the city.

“The normal process is for a citizen or group of citizens to request a petition to have a particular street paved,” says McHenry.

The petition issued must define limits of the project such as the property owners that live or own a house in the particular area.

“In order for a petition to

be deemed valid it must contain a majority of the property owners’ signatures, and they must represent the majority of the road frontage involved in the project,” says McHenry. The sponsor has 90 days to circulate the petition.

After the petition has been signed, it is returned to the office to verify signatures, and if the petition meets the requirements, then a public hearing with City Council will be scheduled to consider ordering the project.

“Once ordered it goes in queue and awaits funding,” says McHenry.

Property owners like local activist Melvin Whitley say they want their roads paved.

“I would like to raise my property value,” says Whitley.

“I don’t mind paying more money if it’s going to raise the value. It’s worth it to me.”

The biggest problem with getting the roads paved is getting the proper signatures to complete the petitioning process. A lot of the people who live on Harvard Avenue are renters.

“The owners are only concerned with collecting their rent, and don’t want to pay more in taxes,” says Whitley.

For this reason, Whitley feels that the current system discriminates against low income areas like Northeast Central Durham which has a high percentage of renters.

While approved streets

are waiting for funding, there is a bidding process for the contractors.

The bid is a price that contractors propose to do the specific job (in this case the unpaved streets that have been approved by city council).

They start off with a prebid conference which is held to address any questions from the contractors regarding the project.

Projects are advertised for 30 days so contractors can bid on the project. The lowest bidder will be accepted if they meet contract documents requirements.

With Durham trying to restore itself to its original beauty people may wonder why the city wouldn’t do everything they can to get these roads paved.

“Unfortunately the cost to pave roads is high,” says McHenry. “Currently the cost is approximately $300-$350 per linear foot.”

Whitley has a solution that he believes will speed up and help the get these roads paved faster. He proposes that the city pave a certain amount of streets per year until they have all been paved.

Luckily for the residents of Harvard Road, they will not have to wait much longer.

Whitley has received confirmation that Harvard Road is scheduled to be paved spring 2010.

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“A centennial homecoming to remember” Homecoming CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 nation ceremony.

The choir ball rocked B. N. Duke Auditorium and Tye Tribbett moved the crowd during the gospel concert.

The fashion show set new trends and the Golden Eagles were immortalized in history.

The work of artist Ernie Barnes was unveiled and awed visitors at the art museum.

The annual stepshow pounded rhythms through the night giving way to a Halloween homecoming parade the next morning.

The Eagles mauled the Marauders during the big game followed by the dance show and alumni dance to top off a special day.

A final gospel concert wrapped up this year’s homecoming and a week many will never forget.

Miss NCCU Chavery McClanahan surrounded by past University queens.

JERRY ROGERS/Echo staff photographer

Omega Psi Phi’s Alexander Jackson stepping at Friday night’s show.

Chancellor Charlie Nelms and Dwayne Johnson at Friday’s convocation.

Comedian Kevin Hart leaves ‘em laughing.

MITCHELL WEBSON/Echo staff photographer

BRANDI MEYERS/Echo staff photographer

RODDRICK HOWELL/Echo staff photographer

The fashion show was a thriller.

Tye Tribbett played to a full house in McDougald-McLendon.

Miss NCCU Chavery McClanahan at coronation.

RODDRICK HOWELL/Echo staff photographer

SAVIN JOSEPH/Echo staff photographer

CORLISS PAULING/Echo staff photographer

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Stompin’ out the comp Greeks intensify steps for the ‘09 homecoming step show

Out with the old in with the

BY JOANNA HERNANDEZ ECHO A&E EDITOR

I want to write a letter, but I have several recipients in my mind.

I’m tired of the same ol’ same ol’ b.s.

Joanna Hernandez

Jay-z would call it being “off that” — a good friend of mine would

say “over it.”

Why is it that most people are complacent with the same routine way of life or satisfied with modeling their existence after a popular entertainer or local entity?

Do they not know how to be original or themselves?

Are they afraid to pursue life outside the proverbial box?

Our music is flooded with the same artists, and the so called “new” artists are the same b.s. in different packaging.

I just want to say a few words to a few people:

Delta Sigma Theta Soroity Inc. put competition to rest during homecoming festivities, and take home the win.

MICTHELL WEBSON/Echo Staff Photographer

BY AMARACHI ANAKARAONYE ECHO STAFF REPORTER

On Friday, the McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium buzzed with fervor for the annual Pan-Hellenic step show.

Among the step teams were: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

The self proclaimed “pretty boys” of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. exuded style and ease as they shimmied and stepped with their canes.

When the Kappas pulled female undergarments out their mouths and grinded to the smooth beats of the music, ladies in the gym went wild.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. left it all on the floor as they stepped with precision and style. With no props or gimmicks, they used intricate formations and

12345 1234 123 12 T r a s h

Ryan Leslie Transition Universal

out of on the 2 5 black hand side From puppy love to divorce, love tends to inspire most of the well known albums of all time.

Out November 3rd, on Universal/Motown, Harvard educated, Ryan Leslie is back with his sophomore album “Transition” inspired by “a summer of secret love.”

The entire eleven tracks is written, programmed, and produced by Mr. Leslie.

“Tranistion” tells the story of his summer fling with his secret lady.

On the opening track, “Never Gonna Break Up” Leslie tells us he “just wants a

details to create their “presidential” swagger.

They exited the stage with formality in their signature black suits and gold ties.

These men were in it to win it and the jumbo screens projected this mission in their grimaces.

The audience screamed with glee for the incumbent sorority champions of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The fire station back drop and red and white strobe lights, set the tone for

their fire themed routine.

In red, glittered fire suits, these 22 ladies balanced class with sass as they stepped with fierceness.

The warriors of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. extinguished Delta Sigma Theta’s hot trail.

They electrified the stage as the reigning fraternity champions.

Dressed in gold and purple masks, breastplates, and their signature boots, they transformed the gym into the “home of the Q’s.”

My addiction Hit factory Out of the Blue Dying Leslie Student Loans girls that looks good with no makeup.”

He wants to date his special someone if their “Zodiac” signs match.

On “Is this Real Love” Leslie asks himself if “this is the one he is waiting for?”

“Sunday Night” my personal favorite, tells of a perfect evening; at home with that special someone.

Musically, Leslie should look into using different producers.

The futuristic R and B sound is great on one or two tracks but an entire album of it makes the album sound flat and kinda boring.

Lyrically, lots of Keith Sweat inspired, “please baby, baby please” begging!

Ryan Leslie is a truly gifted, talented, and educated producer and songwriter but he fell off the deep end with “Transition.”

— Theresa Garrett

The announcement of the winners left the audience on edge.

The gym roared with glee when Delta Sigma Theta was announced as the sorority winners followed by Sigma Gamma Rho and Zeta Phi Beta.

Alpha Phi Alpha marginally swept the champion title for fraternities from Omega Psi Phi, followed by Kappa Alpha Psi. Despite the basis of competition, the night united the campus through sisterhood and brotherhood.

Dear Industry: Stop pouring chocolate on b.s. and telling me it’s a Snickers bar.

Come on y’all. Let’s be real. What about Nikki Minaj is original?

She is just a female version of Wayne, Cam and the rest of them dudes that I’m tired of.

She spits the same and has the same material. Are we all so desperate for a female MC that we are ready to make her the best ‘cause that’s all we see?

There is too much of one style of music in media. There needs to be more diversity. And diverse artist do exist.

How many of you have heard of Jean Gray? I’m sure if she was half naked, extra

vulgar, and running with Wayne you’d know exactly who I was talking about.

I like to listen to music that makes me feel … I can feel it in the lyrics … I can feel it in the kick.

I like when I can feel when the artist bleeds, sweats and cries for their music.

Dear North Carolina: I think your radio shows SUCK! (In Gina Waters voice).

All the stations play the same songs and the same artist. I know the excuse is that if the “people” call in and request some new material, it would be played.

Really though is that happening?

Don’t we wish that the radio broke different music? I guess we can just blame it on industry politics.

My point is don’t trap yourself in a box, in music and in life period.

Life isn’t just what surrounds you and neither is music.

There is a world of fresh faces with fresh music out there.

And despite how it may seem, the “people” can take control — all it takes is support.

Truth is, there are a lot of underground as well as up and coming artist that could use and deserve the support.

Dear new music seekers and supporters: I commend you for playing your part and supporting these artist.

To the DJ at the station who takes chances, the student who decides to check out a local show or download music by someone they’ve never heard of keep it going.

Let’s try new things.

Let’s change the way it is or at least create another lane for the “other people” to go.

Oh yeah and M1 Platoon EVERYTHING!!!

Google it!

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2009

Classifieds Introductory offer: Free online classifieds for students, faculty & staff That’s right. Shoot us an e-mail from any NCCU.edu e-mail address and we’ll post your classified online for two weeks.

Just put the words “NCCU classified” in the subject line and sent it to campusecho@nccu.edu. Keep it under 35 words and be sure to proof read your copy.

A 2” x 2” classified box in the print edition costs just $10 for anyone.

NCCU WRITING STUDIO You wouldn’t wait until the night before to practice for the big game ...

Walk-ins welcome, appointments prefered Monday, Tuesday & Thursday from 9 am - 5 pm Wednesday 9 am - 6 pm Friday 10 am - 2 pm Room 339 ~ Farrison-Newton Communications Building 530-7554 writingstudio@nccu.edu

So why wait until the last minute to start your paper?

Campus Echo Online www.campusecho.com

Sports

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2009

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Eagles go, offense rolls NCCU POUNDS CENTRAL STATE 53-22

BY AARON SAUNDERS ECHO SPORTS EDITOR

N.C. Central University’s football team extended its winning streak to two games this past Saturday at O’Kelly Riddick Stadium with an explosive homecoming performance defeating Division II foe Central State 53-22.

“We had a little better feel for this ball team today, we had a little more film to watch as opposed to the Central Methodist game,” said Head Coach Mose Rison.

NCCU dominated the game on offense setting a new season high in points (53) and total yards (492).

The offense was led by sophomore quarterback Michael Johnson who had perhaps his best performance this season throwing for 246 yards on 14 of 25 attempts, 2 touchdown passes and 1 rushing TD. “Mike is playing quarterback now. He was directing traffic out there, you can really see that now he is comfortable,” said Rison.

The Eagles also chewed up yards on the ground with a steady dose of the three headed monster of juniors Tim Shankle, Tony McCord and freshman Arthur Gorforth who rushed for 88, 80, 40 respectively and combined for three touchdowns.

“Holes were opening up everywhere on the field our offensive line played extremely well,” said running back Tim Shankle.

Senior wide receiver Will Scott also provided an amazing show for the fans in

NCCU Wide receiver Will Scott evades Central state defenders.

JERRY ROGERS /ECHO

his last homecoming game with 6 catches and 121 yards and a touchdown reception.

“Homecoming is the most important game of the season,” said Scott who in his four years of playing never lost a homecoming game.

The NCCU defense was stout as it only allowed 37 yards rushing and 161 yards

through the air and forced 4 interceptions against the Marauder Offense.

“We played well. We gave up a couple of big plays that we have to work on, but overall we played well,” said junior defensive end Donald Laster.

The Eagles have gained a wealth of confidence the

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

past two weeks amassing season highs each week in points.

“We have a lot of confidence after the past two weeks,” said Shankle.

The Eagles head into next week’s game versus Old Dominion University at 2-6. “Next week’s game is huge,” said Rison.

The Monarchs come into the first ever meeting with a 6-2 record in its first season of football with big wins over University of Jacksonville, Savannah State and Georgetown.

“We saw they had a picture that said: ‘Today for lunch: Southern fried Eagle.’ So they are looking

forward to playing us,” said Johnson. “It’s going to be a really good game.”

The Eagles have also played several big name teams this year, “Playing good opponents helps a lot but we know anybody can get beat at anytime so we just have to stay focused,” said Laster.

Basketball anyone?

NCCU men’s basketball anxiously awaits their time to shine BY

AARON SAUNDERS ECHO SPORTS EDITOR

The N.C. Central University basketball team will get a dose of big time college basketball this season with four ACC and two Big Ten foes on the schedule.

The men’s basketball team is set to start its season next Wednesday versus the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“I am looking forward to the first game versus Carolina. Growing up that’s who I always wanted to play for,” said junior guard C.J. Wilkerson.

At the helm for the Eagles is former NCCU basketball star LeVelle Moton, who enters his first season as the head coach of the Eagles after 2 years as an assistant under former Head Coach Henry Dickerson.

“I don’t know what to expect,” said Moton.

“None of these guys have ever played for me in front of 23,500 people before but I

just want us to get better every game,” said Moton.

NCCU finished last season with a less than stellar 427 record. The Eagles will look to improve this season as it prepares for its first season in the MEAC. The Eagles will be without its two leading scorers from last year’s squad; Jamar Briscoe, a guard who averaged just south of 18 ppg and transferred to University of North Carolina at Charlotte after his record setting freshman season, and Bryan Ayala who averaged just under 12 ppg.and completed his eligibility.

NCCU will travel through nine states, play 18 away games and 11 home games.

“Its tough when you’re on the road, but when you breed a family atmosphere and have cohesiveness you find things to do,” said Moton.

The team will rely on a brand new line-up this season with a host of new players looking to make an impact.

The Eagles return five letter winners from last year’s team. Last year’s third leading scorer, junior guard Vincent Davis who averaged 11.2 ppg last season, returns and will be assisted by junior college transfer and cocaptain C.J. Wilkerson who will assume the point guard job.

“As the point guard, if I don’t do the job efficiently, then the rest goes downhill from there,” said Wilkerson.

The lone holdover from the CIAA days is senior forward Joshua Worthy who is looking forward to his final season as an Eagle.

“Overall we have potential we will be successful if we listen to what coach Moton and the rest of the coaches are teaching us,” said Worthy.

He also added that he is looking forward to playing Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

“No one at my house has ever seen me play at home so I am looking forward to the SMU game.”

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Opinions

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2009

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The return of skinny jeans remember a time when a dude would get joked on hard if he showed up to school wearing some tight jeans clinging to his legs.

Yet, recently, there seems to be a growing number of closet, Ersula tight-jean McRaelovers coming out everyday.

Jerkens The sight, even now, seems odd to me and conjures up a smile when I picture the tight jean wearers, looking back in 10 years and wondering what in the world they were thinking.

It seems fashion is always going from one extreme to the next and just a couple of years ago the majority of these guys would not have been caught dead with jeans clinging to their legs like rumpled denim tights; their pants would have been baggy, like the style that originated in the 90’s.

Though I’m no fan of outrageously baggy pants, I thought that males in tight jeans was a

I

It seems fashion is always going from one extreme to the next and just a couple of years ago the majority of these guys would not have been caught dead with jeans clinging to their legs ...

the fad would never come back, but I stand corrected.

Can everything breathe in there fellas? Or is that why you have your butt hanging out, so some fresh air can circulate in that cramped space?

I keep waiting to see one or two popular basketball stars take it back to the tight, stopright-under-the-butt-cheek shorts. Just so I can watch all the local ballers run out and get a pair for themselves so they don’t miss the re-birth of high-tops and daisy dukes.

I truly wonder what would some of these tight-jean wearing guys have to say to a dude who shows up on the basketball court in a pair of tiny shorts.

Ironically, they’d probably joke on him and roll over laughing.

Some would probably even be uncomfortable at the short length and tight presentation.

I’m reminded of the brief “biker shorts” era of the late ‘80’s. My mom had bought my sister and I various colors and many of the girls were wearing them because they had become really popular on the west coast, among surfers and bikers.

One day a brave group of guys decided to all wear a pair as a collective attempt to be apart of the growth of a rising trend...and it was a gut-busting “FAIL!” All day long silly girls were trying to lift up the boys’ shirts and expose their rears or pop the waist bands of their shorts.

Needless to say, none of them EVER wore those shorts again...and to this present day

they get teased about that stunt every now and then.

I know that trends are everchanging and that the older one gets, the more they lose touch. I’m only 29 and even my 8 year-old son notices how silly these guys look with tight jeans sagging under their butt.

He cracks up at the sight, (no pun intended), and shakes his head like he can’t understand the logic in wearing pants that way.

Yet, this is a free country and I highly doubt anyone will throw away clothes because of my personal opinion.

However, before you go out into the public eye, people, take a second or two to remember the story of the “Emperor Who Wore No Clothes”.

He relied on the aspect of trendiness to justify his nakedness, but everyone still saw his business and laughed at how silly he looked and at how naive he was to think that he actually looked like he wanted to be taken seriously.

Look in the mirror; is that really your reflection, or is it just another hyped-up image created by the media?

I am what the media thinks am glad that we are having this discussion. I will try to delve deeper to relate some other considerations appertaining to this phenomenon.

I would say those who need to read the “Saggy Pants, Baggy Pants” article have not read this objectively.

The display of the butt in saggy pants derives, I Willie think, from an evaluation of self.

Pace This fashion says: how I view myself might conflict with your notion of self.

Mine is more important.

Let us think for a moment.

Naive variations and inexperience of opportunities to express one’s self, needs to manifest itself in modes that are left unchallenged.

What I mean is this, how easy is it to continue to go along with someone’s else’s idea of what my self-expression

I

should be?

For example, after talking with fellow students about this concentrated issue, I find that saggy pants is just a symptom of a very simplistic view of one’s self investigation.

I find that these youths are adamant that Hip-Hip culture is a means of “My self-expression”. What these naive declarations fail to consider is that this is a media assumption of yourself.

This is an economic model that tells you how you should view and define yourself. The model of self-substantiation models around an economy that will sustain you through, un-critically I say, ignorance, without self-examination.

Take for instance an unscientific estimation of the percentages of students who own iPods and “cells”.

If I am always listening to my iPod, talking on my cell phone or texting, then what time do I have to really close my eyes, and dialogue with myself, to learn what it really

N ORTH C AROLINA C ENTRAL U NIVERSITY

Campus Echo

means to be me?

Think of it logically. How much time have I really spent learning the what it means to be myself?

How many times have you asked yourself philosophical questions of your human potential?

If after looking within, and finding some conflicts of awareness, do not despair. You have just started your journey of self-identification, and in college this is the ideal place to find one’s self. Don’t continue upon the same hackneyed road of comforts that limits growth.

Do I continue until I am someone’s grand-parent, living a life that someone else has determined for me?

Or do I close my eyes and look at the real me? Why not develop myself according to valued ideals of self outside the group identity?

You are young, and that is no demerit, but that explains the bulk of this group’s self-expression phenomenon.

You are impressionable and eager. The need to pattern yourself after your peers, who are willing to do so without moving outside their comfort zone. Explore the challenging variations of self-hood.

For the causes I have listed above, mainly self-investigation, many people can not stand to be alone. The honest investigation and revelation of inner thought is a scary proposition, particularly upon the first time.

So it is easy to crowd my everyday with distractions that take away these opportunities for self evaluation.

Not only that, but these individual devices make communication sterile and disconnected.

How many times have you seen two people together, but talking on the “cell” to someone else?

The limits of man’s knowledge of self is non-exhaustive; but you must be willing to look inward before you can objectively look outward.

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Question:

How do you think President Obama is doing a year after the election?

“In contrast to the negative comments thrown at Barack, I feel he has done well in obliterating nonsense and justifying his position as head of state.”

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“I believe that President Obama has done the best he could have so far. He still has a great amount of time to flourish ... change does not come overnight.”

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